National Park Northern Velebit
Visitors Center Krasno
Visitors Center Krasno
Love Story between the Nature and a House
It started as just another project.
It developed in a Love Story between the Nature and a House.
The very essence of a Public Institution of National Park is about taking care of Nature, preserving its resources, and educating people about it. So, our house couldn't of give any less than that.
The decision was made to make an environmentally friendly house that uses the latest technologies and knowledge on Building Green. But…That was, kind of, not enough…
Somewhere along the way this house became a social experiment that stopped behaving like the house and opened some interesting issues that had to be considered.
It developed in a Love Story between the Nature and a House.
The very essence of a Public Institution of National Park is about taking care of Nature, preserving its resources, and educating people about it. So, our house couldn't of give any less than that.
The decision was made to make an environmentally friendly house that uses the latest technologies and knowledge on Building Green. But…That was, kind of, not enough…
Somewhere along the way this house became a social experiment that stopped behaving like the house and opened some interesting issues that had to be considered.
- about building in an undeveloped area…
Krasno is a small village in relatively undeveloped area. Let us imagine what a motivating impact to the people of the area is going to come from a Museum building. Such an artifact in a small community should bring a gasp of the metropolis into the life of the village. The message delivered by this building would be the message about ecological way of life, sustainability and nature preservation.
- about educating people on Green Building Stuff…
Park has about 15,000 visitors every year. Hopefully, when built, the Visitors Center would attract at least 10,000 more. We have to imagine the potential of showing all those people how a Green Building works and how it is different comparing to a NormalEveryDayBuilding. If only some of them pick up some new knowledge and apply it at home…
- about us learning on "What's that all about"…
It is not (only) about the goal, it's about the journey. All the participants in this project have learned and are still learning a lot of new concepts. Ideas are being shuffled and talked about. Knowledge and awareness on sustainable building is being spread. New contacts are being established.
It is just so much different things that just add up nicely about this project. We all enjoy it so much.
- Oh yes!... about the tech stuff...
Building uses a combination of different sustainability systems such as: southern orientation, good volume to envelope surface ratio,Trombe-Michel wall, passive building insulation, rain water for watering the plants, bio-mass heating, photovoltaic cells, ventilation through recuperation.
Local materials (stone, wood) are used in construction. Bio-mass for heating is produced by local suppliers.
The building design is simple which corresponds to the traditional architecture of the region. Its concept can be described as Robert Venturi's Decorated Shed. The decoration is taken from the context of National Park, using its colors (pixelated photo) and shapes (altitude profile of Premuzic Trail - a famous educational trail in the park).
Visitors center is built.
